Best Almond Cake

A few years ago, I made the game-changing decision to stick a handful of gluten-free dessert recipes in my back pocket for friends and friends of friends who show up to dinner expecting to have to skip dessert. Since then, I’ve fallen in love with them so much that I plop them down on the table post-dinner as the only sugar fix even for less restrictive friends. 

A key consideration? It has to be easy—no dragging out the stand mixer, no sprinkling flour on the counter, and definitely no separating egg yolks. This is one of those gluten-free and dairy-free recipes (though it does have almonds) that I turn to again and again.  

If you're crazy about citrus cakes, go heavy on the zest (any type!) and your cake will shine like the sun. Just remember that the bright-colored outer layer of the peel is zingy, but the white pith underneath is bitter!

If you have a springform pan, great! It will let you get this cake out easily and help you make the best cheesecake, but if you don't have one, a regular 8" round cake pan works too. Wait until the cake is fully cooled, then place a large plate upside down over the cake and invert the cake onto the plate. We love it served with homemade whipped cream and fresh fruit, plus a little drizzle of honey to make it all sing.

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comment section below!

Editor's note: The introduction to this recipe was updated on May 19, 2022 to include more information.